Fishing rod holder

ABSTRACT

A fishing rod holder comprises: A. AN INTEGRAL BASE PAD AND CUP CONSISTING OF MOLDED ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, THE CUP PROJECTING AT ONE SIDE OF THE BASE PAD AND SIZED TO RECEIVE THE HANDLE END OF A FISHING ROD, B. THE BASE PAD CONTAINING AN INTERNAL SLOT LOCATED INWARDLY OF THE CUP AND SPACED THEREFROM, THE SLOT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE CUP TO RECEIVE A FISHERMAN&#39;&#39;S BELT FOR SECURING THE BASE PAD TO THE FISHERMAN.

United States Patent 91 Davis Jan. 1, 1974 FISHING ROD HOLDER 3,342,327 9/1967 Ryan 224/5 R [76] Inventor: Marvin A. Davis, 66 Ocean View,

Apt 3 3, Santa Barbara, Calif Primary Examzner--Gerald M. Forlenza 93103 Assistant Examzner-Jerold M. Forsberg Att0meyWilliam W. Haefliger et al. [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 245,544 57 ABSTRACT A fishing rod holder comprises: [52} US. Cl 224/5 E an integral base pad and cup consisting f molded [5 1] Int. Cl. A45f 5/00 elastomeric material the cup projecting at one side f [58] Field of Search 224/5 E, l R, 26 R, the base pad and Sized to receive the handle end f a 224/26 B fishing rod,

' b. the base pad containing an internal slot located [56] References Clted inwardly of the cup and spaced therefrom, the slot UNITED STATES PATENTS extending transversely of the cup to receive a 2,735,596 2/1956 Smedley et al 224/5 E fighermans belt for securing the base pad to the 2,719,659 10/1955 Bowman 224/5 E fi h 2,314,747 3/1943 White 224/5 E UX 3,115,997 12/1963 Hengst 224/5 E 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures FISHING ROD HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to fishing equipment, and more particularly concerns fishing rod holders.

In the past, rod holders have been less than satisfactory due to relatively high cost and inadequate construction. As to the latter, rivets typically used in leather holders tend to rust rapidly in marine environments, and the leather rots. There is accordingly a need for a simple, low cost, relatively small, easily mounted rod holder of durable construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide a rod holder overcoming the above disadvantages, and also offering the additional advantages as will appear.

Basically, the improved rod holder comprises an integral base pad and cup consisting of one-piece, molded elastomeric material for durability, the cup projecting at one side of the pad and sized to receive the handle end of a rod; and a slot in the base located inwardly of the cup to receive a fishermans belt for securing the pad and cup to the fisherman. As will appear, tapering of the cup rim and internal conical wall aid materially in rapid location of the rod end in the cup as required during playing and landing of a large fish, as in deep sea fishing. i

A further object and advantage is the provision'of a cupinterior wall of reduced thickness to be inwardly deflected by the rod end, tilted upwardly, to thereby effect clamping of a belt in the slot in response to in wardly transmitted rod end pressure, preventing slippage of the pad and cup on the belt.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a front elevation;

' as shown.

It will be noted that the interior wall 22 of the cup is of sufficiently reduced thickness in relation to the overall thickness D of the pad 1 1 as to be inwardly deflectibleto frictionally clamp the belt in the slot in response to pressure exerted inwardly by the rod end upper extent 23, the rod being tilted slightly upwardly. Accordingly, the pad cannot then slip on the belt which may be quite smooth, and the rod end is securely anchored in position.

The minimum internal diameter A of the cup is typically between about 2-3 inches, and the slot vertical dimension B is typically between about lVz- 2% inches.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation on lines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on lines 33 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As seen in the drawings, the rod holder 10 comprises an integral base pad 11 and cup 12 consisting of nular rounded rim 14 which may advantageously define a flat plane. 15 tapering upwardly and toward an upward extension of a vertical plane 16 defined by pad 11. Also, the cup defines an inner conical surface 17- tapering toward the pad, such taper and the taper of plane 15 serving to facilitate easilyand rapid entry of The lower edge 20a of the slot lies inwardly of the lower interior of the cup 12, and the upper edge 20b lies inwardly of the uppermost extent of the cup 12, as seen, whereby the belt major vertical extent lies rearwardly of the fishing rod handle end.

I claim:

1. In combination with a fishing rod, a holder, comprising a. an integral one-piece base pad and cup consisting of molded elastomeric material, the cup projecting .at the front side of the base pad and sized to receive the handle end of a fishing rod,

b. the base pad containing an internal slot extending in a vertical plane defined by the pad and located inwardly of the cup and spaced therefrom,-the slot extending transversely of the cup to receive a fishermans belt for securing the base pad to the fisherman, the pad having a flat rear face rearwardly of the cup, and the slot being everywhere spaced forwardly of said rear face, the cup defining an inner conical surface which tapers toward the pad and merges into a bottom wall at least the upper half of said conical surface being located forwardly of the slot and above the lowermost portion thereof, the cup having a substantially endless rim defining a plane tapering upwardly and toward an upward extension of a vertical plane defined by the pad, said bottom wall of the cup being substantially vertical and of sufficiently reduced thickness in relation to the overall thickness of the base pad as to be inwardly deflected to frictionally clamp the belt in said slot in response to inwardly exerted rod end pressure. 

1. In combination with a fishing rod, a holder, comprising a. an integral one-piece base pad and cup consisting of molded elastomeric material, the cup projecting at the front side of the base pad and sized to receive the handle end of a fishing rod, b. the base pad containing an internal slot extending in a vertical plane defined by the pad and located inwardly of the cup and spaced therefrom, the slot extending transversely of the cup to receive a fisherman''s belt for securing the base pad to the fisherman, the pad having a flat rear face rearwardly of the cup, and the slot being everywhere spaced forwardly of said rear face, the cup defining an inner conical surface which tapers toward the pad and merges into a bottom wall at least the upper half of said conical surface being located forwardly of the slot and above the lowermost portion thereof, the cup having a substantially endless rim defining a plane tapering upwardly and toward an upward extension of a vertical plane defined by the pad, said bottom wall of the cup being substantially vertical and of sufficiently reduced thickness in relation to the overall thickness of the base pad as to be inwardly deflected to frictionally clamp the belt in said slot in response to inwardly exerted rod end pressure. 